Russia unveils 6 new super weapons1:23

In a fiery state-of-the-nation address, Vladimir Putin unveils 6 new super weapons, warning the Western World to take notice.

March 2nd 2018

a year ago

/display/newscorpaustralia.com/Web/NewsNetwork/Network News/World/

An image purporting to be that of Russia's new nuclear-powered underwater drone, 'Poseidon".Source:Supplied

Russia has released footage of its new ‘apocalypse torpedo’ — a nuclear powered submarine drone designed to unleash radioactive tsunamis against the world’s coastal cities.

In his state of the nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin made not-so-veiled threats against any nation seeking to counterbalance his growing hi-tech nuclear arsenal.

And he unveiled one of the ways he hopes to bypass the growing number of missile-defence facilities being built within Europe and the United States.

The ‘Poseidon’ nuclear-powered torpedo is designed to bypass such existing defences. It is intended to travel quietly — and quickly — through the world’s oceans and cross intercontinental distances. Once near a key target, its nuclear warhead will detonate.

The resulting shockwave and vaporised body of water is expected to generate an unstoppable tsunami.

“(The) unique characteristics of the Poseidon system will help the navy to successfully combat aircraft carriers and strike groups of a potential adversary in any oceanic theatre of war and destroy shore infrastructure facilities,” Admiral Igor Katasonov has told Russian media.

In this undated video grab provided by the Russian Defense Ministry, the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone is seen being test-launched somewhere in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Poseidon has undergone successful tests and a submarine intended to carry it will be commissioned later this year. Picture: APSource:AP

APOCALYPSE TORPEDO

President Putin unveiled the first footage of the 2m wide by 20m long weapon, also known as ‘Kanyon’, while delivering his state of the nation address. That’s some 30 times bigger than a conventional torpedo.

Essentially a nuclear-powered submarine drone, it has reportedly been undergoing testing along with a nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Buresvestnik (Petrel). This is also supposed to be able to avoid missile defences by flying vast distances before making its attack run from an unexpected direction.

But President Putin’s key reveal was the first real look at the Poseidon torpedo.

The footage shows the long cylinder-shaped torpedo in a hydrodynamic testing pool, where its control surfaces and buoyancy devices can be assessed. It’s also shown undergoing modification in a lab, along with a brief glimpse of a test-launch of the experimental weapon from a modified submarine.

According to the state-run Sputnik news service, Russian Rear Admiral Vsevolod Khmyrov said the tests had been successful.

“There was a full cycle of bench tests, including tests of a unique nuclear power unit, and then comprehensive marine field tests,” he said. “All this allows to start a full final stage soon, i.e. tests of the drone together with its carrier.”

According to President Putin, the weapon system could be operational within the next few months. A specially-designed nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk is nearing completion at the Sevmash Shipyard, and is due to be launched before June.

“Two Poseidon-carrying submarines are expected to enter service with the Northern Fleet and the other two will join the Pacific Fleet. Each of the submarines will carry a maximum of eight drones and, therefore, the total number of Poseidons on combat duty may reach 32 vehicles,” state media outlet Tass reported last month.

This will include existing Oscar-class submarines modified to carry the new weapon system, Tass reports.

An image purporting to be that of Russia's new nuclear-powered underwater drone, 'Poseidon".Source:Supplied

MISGUIDED MISSILE?

Doubts exist as to the weapon’s effectiveness, however.

The government mouthpiece Tass last year reported the Poseidon would carry a warhead of about two-megatons in size. But military analysts suggest that’s not enough to generate a damaging tsunami.

Confusingly, early 2015 Russian government reports of the weapon’s development stated it could carry a 100 megaton warhead, though the Poseidon is believed to be only barely big enough to carry such a device.

According to Popular Mechanics, US studies into atomic weapons detonated under the sea’s surface found them not to be very good at generating big waves.

“Most wave energy is dissipated by breaking on the continental shelf before reaching shore,” an Office of Naval Research report ruled.

And then there’s the matter of speed. Kremlin sources are stating it can move underwater at up to 200km/h. This exploits a technology called ‘supercavitation’, where the torpedo uses a ramjet to propel it along inside a bubble to reduce friction from the surrounding water.

But analysts have told Popular Mechanics that these claims remain highly unlikely, given what we’ve seen of the Poseidon. The weapons shape, the size of its control fins, and its apparent drive system would not work within the bubble surrounding a supercavitating device.

It would also be very loud, they say, making it easy to detect, target and destroy.

But is the Poseidon program a fake, or does the footage simply show a deliberately deceptive prop?

“Basically, the verified elements are too expensive and too long-term to be fake,” submarine weapons system analyst H.I. Sutton told Popular Mechanics. “Mainly the submarine Sarov, which was built specifically to test the weapon. It cannot be explained by any other project or plausible other purpose.”

What it could really be may be reflected in a new US project.

The 'Orca' underwater drone being built by Boeing for the US Navy. Picture: BoeingSource:Supplied

AMERICAN EQUIVALENT

Whatever the true nature of Poseidon, the United States has just awarded a contract to Boeing to build it four giant new robot submarines.

Named Orca, the Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle is based on Boeing’s Echo Voyager submersible drone. The Orca, however, is intended to prowl the world’s oceans under the control of its own artificial intelligence (AI) for months at a time.

The US Navy says it wants to use it to locate hidden mines, track submarines and surface ships, engage in electronic surveillance — and conduct strike missions.

It appears to be smaller than Russia’s Poseidon.

Boeing says it will be about 15.5m long and 2.5m wide, weighing up to 50 tons. It’s believed to have a diesel-electric propulsion system.

The Orca will be completed with a 60sq/m payload bay. This multi-mission space will enable the drone to be configured for its diverse tasks according to need — including reconnaissance, torpedos, mines and guided missiles.